Rights campaigners in Nigeria have slammed the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, for prodding the people of the state to fight, even with their blood, to rid the state of elements of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.
Mr. Ikuru, on Monday, had asked members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state to fight and redeem the state from the APC even if it means shedding their blood.
He made the call in Port Harcourt to a crowd of PDP supporters who turned out to welcome him after his defection from the APC.
“It is necessary for the sake of your fathers, for the sake of your mothers, for the sake of your brothers and sisters and for the sake of your children. Every Rivers man must stand up to fight this evil among us,” Mr. Ikuru said. “If it demands your blood, so be it.”
The Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Ikuru’s statement does not just portray hate but is especially dangerous because of the forthcoming elections.
“This a very worrying situation particularly looking at how volatile the election is. It amounts to dangerous speech, it goes beyond hate speech, it’s a dangerous speech to incite people to violence,” Ms. Hassan said.
Ms. Hassan said the comments by a serving deputy governor is unlawful, punishable, and against the Abuja peace accord signed by political parties.
“As much as the political gladiators keep inciting people to violence, they should not forget that if they feel the culture of impunity is actually encouraged here in Nigeria, that the ICC has already issued a statement to the effect that if anybody commits violence during this election will go in for it,” she said.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, condemned the statement.
“That’s very callous, if he made that comment,” Mr. Onwubiko said.
He said he hopes the Deputy Governor’s statement attracts international attention especially with the recent statement from the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal court that anyone who incites violence or participates in violent act during the election will be held responsible for their actions.
With Rivers State having recorded pockets of pre- election violence, various organizations have put the state on “red alert”, he said.
“That particular state has been burning, I think political leaders from that Rivers State should be careful of what they say. The state is a flashpoint for political violence, so you don’t expect anybody, a respectable politician from that state to be the one to speak of violence,” Mr. Onwubiko said.
He added that it is pertinent for the Deputy Governor to quickly recant his statement and apologise to Nigerians for making such inciting speech.
Also, Lauratu Abdulsalam of the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme said such statement from a personality as the Deputy Governor of the state can lead his followers to cause an unimaginable level of violence.
The activists also called on the National Human Rights Commission to look into Mr. Ikuru’s statement and hold him accountable to any violence that might erupt in the state.





http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/179141-rivers-deputy-governor-ikuru-under-fire-over-call-for-blood-fight.html

I don't care, APC started all this threat we just learners where they are now you all are fry fowl





All I know is gej till 2019

APC's nature is still in him.

THE BLOOD OF APC IS STILL THEY HIS BODLY

PDP is a party of thugs and killers!

No matter how much you try to wash and clean up a pig,it will always go back to dirty and muddy water,the 1st poster is a good example.

Violence,rigging,bad leadership,uncouth tongue and behaviour are all synonymous with PDP.

Like mother like son

Once you are in PDP you loose your senses.
PEJ: stone anyone who says change
ND militant: we'll go to war if GEJ looses
OPC: GEJ or war
Agbaje: for peace to reign, it must be Jona

All these drumming for war won't be victims when it happens, it is the common man on the street that will suffer.

Good for him and I also hope ICC are watching and waiting to pick up some people after this election ooooo. Na Gbagbo way all of them go go !!!

Let the blood flow
D blood of apc thugs
Say yes to transformation/jonathan

ICC is coming for you, because of this reckless,unrefined and misguided statement. Coupled with the defeat that awaits your new found party(PDP), all I can say is this"double wahala for dead body". Meanwhile, Sai Buhari.